ASO - Amaury Sport Organisation - Creator and promoter of global solutions for the organization of sporting events

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		L'Open de France

		Presentation
		Key figures



L’open de France is a top-of-the-line sporting event where history, spectacle and emotion are around every corner, and the great champions are there to meet the challenge. Created in 1906, l’Open de France is the oldest open in continental Europe and part and parcel of international golf. Each year, top-rung players pit their skills and former winners include such names as Arnaud Massy, Walter Hagen, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Severiano Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen and Jose Maria Olazabal.

AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE

The ambition shared by A.S.O. and the French Golf Federation is to make l’Open de France the leading competition in continental Europe, by attracting the best players, having the strongest partners, highlighting the sporting qualities of golf, enhancing its image and guaranteeing optimum media coverage.

To reach this ambitious objective, A.S.O. has developed the following actions

• The name: To clearly underline its ambition to win back acclaim, the tournament has, as of 2003 and in agreement with its major partners, once more used its original and historic name: l’Open de France.

• The date: Securing a strategic date in the international calendar,from June 23 to 26, between the US and British Opens.

• Prizemoney: So as to attract the cream of the golfing world, l’Open de France prizemoney will total 2 million euros in 2004 and 4 million by 2006, an increase which will make l’Open de France the most attractive in continental Europe, second only to the Grand Slam. Prizemoney will match player performance.

• Participation: L’Open de France will attract the best players on the European circuit and, from 2003, is open to the top 50 in world rankings.

• A permanent home for l’Open de France which will henceforth be taking place at the National Golf Course of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It will therefore be based at a prestige site, a stadium of golf whose facilities will be extended and modernized: easier access for the public throughout the course, creation of panoramic terraces and stands near the greens and playing areas.

MEDIA COVERAGE

PRESS 154 journalists present, 96 TV production staff, 14 cameras	154 journalists 508 hours of TV broadcasting

FRENCH TV BROADCASTS 54 hours of programmes Canal+: 2 hrs live on Saturday and Sunday from 15.00 to 17.00, retransmission on Thursday and Friday Canal+ sport: Live on Thursday and Friday from 16.00 to 18.00, retransmission on Saturday and Sunday Sport+: Retransmission from Thursday to Sunday WORLD TV BROADCASTS Europe: 187 hrs (France, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Eurosport) America: 31 hrs (USA, Canada) Asia: 256 hrs (Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines) Africa-Oceania: 34 hrs (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)

More : http://www.opendefrance.fr/